Shipping Guides
Italy to UAE Shipping Guide: Marble, Furniture, and More
How to ship goods from Italy to Dubai and UAE — transit times, documentation, and tips for marble, furniture, and machinery.
Italy is one of the top sources of premium goods imported into UAE. Italian marble and stone, designer furniture, luxury fashion, ceramics, and industrial machinery flow regularly from Italian ports (Genoa, Livorno, La Spezia, Naples) to Jebel Ali in Dubai. Transit time by sea is typically 18–22 days.
Sea freight is the preferred mode for most Italy-UAE shipments given the size and weight of typical Italian cargo (marble slabs, furniture, machinery). Air freight is used for fashion, small components, or urgent orders and takes 2–3 days from major Italian airports. LCL (shared container) sea freight is available for smaller orders.
Documents required for Italy to UAE shipments: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, EUR.1 movement certificate (for EU preferential duty rates if applicable), certificate of origin, and any product-specific certificates (e.g., CITES for wood furniture made from protected species, phytosanitary certificate for wood packaging material). UAE import duties on most goods from Italy range from 5% (standard rate) to 0% for select categories.
Special handling is required for Italian marble and stone: slabs are typically loaded on A-frames or wooden crates, and containers must be properly braced to prevent shifting during the 18–22 day sea voyage. For Italian furniture, white-glove delivery services in UAE are available to ensure damage-free final delivery. Contact Elite Cargo for tailored solutions for Italy to UAE cargo.